Origin of the Word “Anesthesia”

August 23, 2010

The term “anesthesia” was coined in 1846 by physician and noted poet Oliver Wendall Holmes, Sr. in a letter to William G. Morton, the dentist who is credited with the first written description of the use of ether in a medical procedure to relieve pain. Immodestly predicting that his new term would be spoken by every civilization countless times, Holmes chose the prefix “an” meaning without and root “aesthesia” which roughly means feeling.

Holmes is also credited with coining the term “Boston Brahmin,” of which he was one.

Comments

The name Anastasia is from the greek word anastasi.
The anastasi is the resurrection of Jesus (now Easter)
Anastasi is to awaken from death. Its my understanding that the word anesthesia comes from the word Anastasi.
I guess St Anastasia could be be the saint of Anesthetists.
Helene kailis